Strategic Planning

In December 2007, the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission met for the first time. SB 60 had enabled the formation of the Commission and the Georgia Trauma Fund. Approximately $59 million was allocated to the Trauma Fund and the Commission was charged with distributing the Fund fairly and effectively, acting as the accountability mechanism, and overseeing the flow of funds into the entire Georgia trauma system.  SB 60 specifically mandated that EMS, designated trauma centers, and trauma physicians were to be funded.

Commission meetings were held monthly with subcommittees meeting regularly. The Commission assessed trauma center readiness costs, uncompensated care, best practices from other states, and alternate funding formulas for trauma centers, trauma physicians and EMS. In June 2008, the Commission approved the 2008-2009 $59 million trauma system-funding plan.  The Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission completed its due diligence and allocated the Georgia Trauma Fund in a manner that was fair, based upon expert analysis and facts, which best supported stabilizing and strengthening the Georgia Trauma System.  The investment of Georgian’s money worked as intended and substantially strengthened the remaining trauma centers. Several trauma centers were contemplating dropping out of the system as they had voluntarily met all of the state regulations for being designated a trauma center for the last decade without substantial state funding.   The stabilization worked as no trauma centers withdrew from the trauma system in 2008.

Link to American College of Surgeons Report: Trauma System Consultation, State Of Georgia, January 2009

Link to January 2010 updated Five-Year Plan

Link to original Our Emerging Vision (Five Year Plan) document approved by Georgia Trauma Commission in February 2009